Funding for Mid-West library language resources

26/6/96

The Mid-West region has been given an $8,000 boost by the State Government to provide library resources for residents wanting to improve their skills in English and other languages.

Local Government Minister Paul Omodei said the City of Geraldton and Shire of Greenough were among 12 country councils to benefit from funding under the Government's Language Learning Resource Centre Program.

The funds were available to purchase items such as language books, tapes and videos, computer software, tape and video recorders, televisions and headphones. Individual councils determined which resources were most appropriate for their libraries.

The language learning centre program was intended to cater for:

people from non-English speaking backgrounds wanting to improve their English language skills; and

people keen to learn a language other than English.

Mr Omodei said Geraldton and Greenough had sought funding to provide English, Italian, Japanese, German, Indonesian and Spanish language resources at the Geraldton Regional Library.

The regional library serviced both Geraldton and Greenough and also provided support to 27 libraries in the Mid-West and Murchison. The total population serviced was over 82,000.

Mr Omodei said the region had a significant number of migrants from non-English speaking backgrounds who would benefit from the English language aids.

"At the last census, there were more than 30,000 Western Australians who could not speak English or could not speak it well," he said.

"Those people face enormous problems participating in community life. They can be severely disadvantaged both socially and professionally, with problems ranging from difficulty in accessing essential services to social isolation and loneliness.

"At the same time, the program will enable more Western Australians to learn a language other than English. There are clear benefits to the State in encouraging people to learn a second language, particularly for business and employment purposes."

Mr Omodei said the State Government program was developed during the International Year of Tolerance last year, when all councils were invited to apply for funding.

"We wanted our commitment to the Year of Tolerance to be of lasting value to the whole community, rather than something which was short-term and quickly forgotten," he said.

Mr Omodei said many of the councils which received funding proposed working in partnership with local ethnic groups, schools, colleges and even business organisations.

They had selected languages which were seen to be most relevant to the local community, taking account of both personal and business needs.

The languages program was jointly funded by the Office of Multicultural Interests and the Lotteries Commission.

Media contact Amanda O'Brien (09) 222 9595